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Don't know whether this is of any use but the First Capital Connect service from Bedford to Wimbledon and also to Brighton switches from overhead to third rail at Farringdon Station for the onward run on southern rails. Quite a crack when it switches over.

Even worse when, as happened to me once, the driver set off southwards with the pantograph still raised on the rear unit.

Don't forget that the Class 92 can use OHL equipment and swap over to 3rd rail.That would be a good loco for your layout, however the only RtR version available at present is a CJM which will cost you £400+!

Can I throw Liverpool South Parkway into the mix. Both 25KV and 3rd rail serve the station although grade separated and at a 30 deg angle to each other....there is plenty of scope for contemporary and planned items to be mixed in an extrapolation of the plan of the real thing!!

I pass through Watford a bit, so here are a few camera photo shots of the yard:

I'm sure I have a better view of the un-loader somewhere but I can't find it right now.

The track layout has a double run-round loop set up with a cripple siding as a 'kick-back', and the rake is split in half to pass t through the un-loader. It would make an interesting set of shunting moves with Easi-shunt couplers.

Incidentally, at Watford Junction there is a stretch of the down fast with DC 3rd rail on it where the DC line connection comes in for traction changeover.

The West London line changeover at North Pole has been mentioned. Acton Central, Camden Town, Dalston Kingsland and Hackney Wick all used to be too. Of these, Camden Town, with it's numerous freight moves and junction either end has potential for a layout.

Hackney Wick had a bi-directional line to allow freights to be held on the down line awaiting routing at Channelsea Junction around the corner, whilst passenger trains passed in both directions on the bi-directional up line. This might make for a smaller layout of interest. Both have arches and roof tops to model in abundance, and lots of double headed 37s under the wires!

Earlier in the thread there was talk of Watford yard being 'shifted' to Bushey for modelling purposes. I got chance to snap a few more views today, although the one of the shovel loader suffers from zooming on the camera phone.

The next one shows the crossover that creates the two loops for the train splitting move, with the 'cripple' road beyond.

n85cs

north pole junction is where the southern service Clapham junction via Kensington to Watford / mk class 350 switches power and the pan comes up / goes down - the clunk passengers hear and a short noise - switch to 3rd rail. or Watford just south of the PSB - signal box where wolverton bound class 313s / 507s / 508s used to switch power modes

The current plan is to remove the third rail not dual the system. Dual third and overhead causes lots of electrical problems and corrosion as a result.

Most of the modern EMU stock has 25kv provision and 25kv means better acceleration etc

Indeed so, but there is bound to be a lot of route dual-fitted for significant lengths of time even if onily one system is active. There will have to be a permanent changeover at Basingstoke (at least until anyone decides to convert inwards towards Waterloo as well) and at least one more changeover that will move around as different sections are converted.

There are services from Portsmouth via Botley to Waterloo - these will still require 3rd rail or a changeover at Eastleigh?

My understanding is changeover at Basingstoke and Eastleigh for them.

Sadly, this precludes the use of 442's going back to that line any time soon.

north pole junction is where the southern service Clapham junction via Kensington to Watford / mk class 350 switches power and the pan comes up / goes down - the clunk passengers hear and a short noise - switch to 3rd rail. or Watford just south of the PSB - signal box where wolverton bound class 313s / 507s / 508s used to switch power modes

I can't speak for any UK Dual Voltage units as I have never ridden on one (I was a southern boy). Driving Auckland's new Electric Trains though, they have a noticeable clunk when the Main Circuit Breaker on the Roof opens and closes. Quite noticeable in the saloon of the AMP car (only one motor car has a Pantograph).

north pole junction is where the southern service Clapham junction via Kensington to Watford / mk class 350 switches power and the pan comes up / goes down - the clunk passengers hear and a short noise - switch to 3rd rail. or Watford just south of the PSB - signal box where wolverton bound class 313s / 507s / 508s used to switch power modes

I thought the 507/508's were DC only.

The section on the down main at Watford was to allow the 313's to leave travel to Bletchley without having to re tun to London.